Clegg wants northern cities growth

Nick Clegg is appealing for ideas from the public on how to boost growth in the North of England.

The Deputy Prime Minister is to urge people to email the Government with suggestions for cities like Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester.

In a speech to the International Business Festival in Leeds, Mr Clegg will suggest that the HS2 train link could stop in the centre of Sheffield - the city that includes his own constituency - and stress the Government's existing measures to fuel an economic revival.

"For years, I've argued that Leeds, along with Sheffield and Manchester, can and should form part of a northern hub, driving economic investment and growth across the North of England," the Liberal Democrat leader will say.

"These are three of Britain's biggest cities all within 45 miles of one another. Together, they can offer investors access to flexible, highly skilled workforces, world-class universities with cutting-edge research expertise, a strong industrial base and clusters of innovative businesses in high-growth sectors such as precision manufacturing, creative and professional services, healthcare, retail and green industries.

"It is why, as part of our consultation process, I and the rest of Government are open to considering possible city centre locations for HS2 in Sheffield, if that's the best solution for Yorkshire.

"I also welcome the Chancellor's commitment last week to a new high-speed rail connection between Leeds and Manchester."

Mr Clegg will say Growth Deals are being announced next week to extend the powers of local leaders and give them access to a £12 billion pot of funding over the next six years to create jobs, build homes and kick-start economic projects.

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"We've also got to be realistic that the best ideas aren't going to come from Whitehall. Nobody knows more about what local economies need than the people who actually live and work day in and day out in the communities themselves," he will say.

"So today, I'm launching the next phase in our drive to generate the best ideas for stronger local growth with our new Northern Futures Project.

"This is an open call to our local leaders, businesses and experts in housing, transport, planning, science and education across the North of England to answer this fundamental question: How do we build on the strengths in the North to create an economic core in the heart of the region that can compete with the biggest cities and regions in the world?

"It's time for us to put aside outdated local rivalries. As we've seen with the Local Enterprise Partnerships in Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, united we're stronger.

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"We want to hear your views, your opinions and ideas about how we best work together to strengthen the global competitiveness of our great northern giants like Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester and power an economic revival across the North. If you've got a plan to do that, send us the details at the email address northernfutures@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk.

"Over the summer, we'll be looking at the suggestions we receive. I then plan to host an economic summit in the North this autumn to discuss how we take forward the best ideas, bringing together the influential voices who can make them happen."

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Comments (6)

Lump 'em all together, I am sure that the inhabitants of Yorkshire will love being told they now live in Manchester. That's what was done to us, and we are always being told how lucky we are to live in "London".

Lump 'em all together, I am sure that the inhabitants of Yorkshire will love being told they now live in Manchester.
That's what was done to us, and we are always being told how lucky we are to live in "London".goldenbroomboy

Lump 'em all together, I am sure that the inhabitants of Yorkshire will love being told they now live in Manchester. That's what was done to us, and we are always being told how lucky we are to live in "London".

Score: 3

Big Time says...8:36am Fri 4 Jul 14

I wonder why Glegg has none nothing about it for the last four years if he is that bothered.

I wonder why Glegg has none nothing about it for the last four years if he is that bothered.Big Time

I wonder why Glegg has none nothing about it for the last four years if he is that bothered.

Score: 5

Rita Jelfs says...9:27am Fri 4 Jul 14

Big Time wrote…

I wonder why Glegg has none nothing about it for the last four years if he is that bothered.

Clegg has played the passive partner in the coalition until now. But the Coalition has seen the UKIP rise to be a real threat in the UK, especially in the regions that are suffering in the aftermass of the GFC. Maybe Clegg has finally realised that his party is going to lose their seats in Parliament, if he doesn't 'differentiate' his policies to the electorate, from those of Cameron? At any rate, he's certainly being proactive now.

[quote][p][bold]Big Time[/bold] wrote:
I wonder why Glegg has none nothing about it for the last four years if he is that bothered.[/p][/quote]Clegg has played the passive partner in the coalition until now. But the Coalition has seen the UKIP rise to be a real threat in the UK, especially in the regions that are suffering in the aftermass of the GFC. Maybe Clegg has finally realised that his party is going to lose their seats in Parliament, if he doesn't 'differentiate' his policies to the electorate, from those of Cameron? At any rate, he's certainly being proactive now.Rita Jelfs

Big Time wrote…

I wonder why Glegg has none nothing about it for the last four years if he is that bothered.

Clegg has played the passive partner in the coalition until now. But the Coalition has seen the UKIP rise to be a real threat in the UK, especially in the regions that are suffering in the aftermass of the GFC. Maybe Clegg has finally realised that his party is going to lose their seats in Parliament, if he doesn't 'differentiate' his policies to the electorate, from those of Cameron? At any rate, he's certainly being proactive now.

Score: 0

RealLivin says...10:09am Fri 4 Jul 14

As Manchester has ousted Birmingham as Englands second city it is getting lots more promotion from central government, this I dont have a problem with, but can we stop lumping everything in the north of England with Manchester. Im not sure how much help Manchester had from central government to get it into this position (little I would suspect) but it does have good rail, road and air links, if the north east had these as well we could compete with Manchester as well but as usual the "north" doesnt include the north east. I think we can expect more of this as election year come closer boosting the Norths, and Scotlands economy and if we are lucky the north east may get a mention in promises but action is doubtful.

As Manchester has ousted Birmingham as Englands second city it is getting lots more promotion from central government, this I dont have a problem with, but can we stop lumping everything in the north of England with Manchester. Im not sure how much help Manchester had from central government to get it into this position (little I would suspect) but it does have good rail, road and air links, if the north east had these as well we could compete with Manchester as well but as usual the "north" doesnt include the north east. I think we can expect more of this as election year come closer boosting the Norths, and Scotlands economy and if we are lucky the north east may get a mention in promises but action is doubtful.RealLivin

As Manchester has ousted Birmingham as Englands second city it is getting lots more promotion from central government, this I dont have a problem with, but can we stop lumping everything in the north of England with Manchester. Im not sure how much help Manchester had from central government to get it into this position (little I would suspect) but it does have good rail, road and air links, if the north east had these as well we could compete with Manchester as well but as usual the "north" doesnt include the north east. I think we can expect more of this as election year come closer boosting the Norths, and Scotlands economy and if we are lucky the north east may get a mention in promises but action is doubtful.

Score: 2

Shropshirelad says...7:24pm Fri 4 Jul 14

A more odious man I find it impossible to imagine, he is the MP for Sheffield Hallam. If there is any justice in this world, at the next General Election he would lose his deposit and get consigned to the dustbin of well and truly failed would be MPs. After the student fees treachery and the broken promises with regard to a review of Parliamentary constituencies, this man knows that his chances of getting re-elected are minimal. He is now thinking what wonderful ruses he can use to bring his local electorate around to his way of thinking. I hope that his electorate know him for what he is, an unprincipled opportunist and give him the order of the boot. Yes, the north has been treated unfairly but don't let this man have anything to do with correcting it.

A more odious man I find it impossible to imagine, he is the MP for Sheffield Hallam. If there is any justice in this world, at the next General Election he would lose his deposit and get consigned to the dustbin of well and truly failed would be MPs. After the student fees treachery and the broken promises with regard to a review of Parliamentary constituencies, this man knows that his chances of getting re-elected are minimal. He is now thinking what wonderful ruses he can use to bring his local electorate around to his way of thinking. I hope that his electorate know him for what he is, an unprincipled opportunist and give him the order of the boot. Yes, the north has been treated unfairly but don't let this man have anything to do with correcting it.Shropshirelad

A more odious man I find it impossible to imagine, he is the MP for Sheffield Hallam. If there is any justice in this world, at the next General Election he would lose his deposit and get consigned to the dustbin of well and truly failed would be MPs. After the student fees treachery and the broken promises with regard to a review of Parliamentary constituencies, this man knows that his chances of getting re-elected are minimal. He is now thinking what wonderful ruses he can use to bring his local electorate around to his way of thinking. I hope that his electorate know him for what he is, an unprincipled opportunist and give him the order of the boot. Yes, the north has been treated unfairly but don't let this man have anything to do with correcting it.

Score: 1

Nicholas_Till says...7:49pm Fri 4 Jul 14

I've got it! Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and the other places down there can be The GrimUpNorth (I've a feeling they're rather proud of all that...). North of the Aire Gap, it can be called The North Country. After all, apart from Tyne/Wear/Teesside it's mostly pretty rural. Or, The North North; or, for that matter, The Nice North. Its inhabitants can potter about being outlandish and slaying dragons and being chased by the Chillingham bull in a paysage that looks like the illustrations of Thomas Bewick, while Cleggie turns the other bit into a hellish megalopolis vivisected by bullet trains to keep up with the Chinese. Though he may not have what it takes. I don't think he did much to try and save that very long-established forge in Sheffield that had a fine reputation but was passed over for some very important contract and had to close. Taking a place back to Year Zero seems very generally to result in its staying there.

I've got it!
Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and the other places down there can be The GrimUpNorth (I've a feeling they're rather proud of all that...).
North of the Aire Gap, it can be called The North Country. After all, apart from Tyne/Wear/Teesside it's mostly pretty rural. Or, The North North; or, for that matter, The Nice North.
Its inhabitants can potter about being outlandish and slaying dragons and being chased by the Chillingham bull in a paysage that looks like the illustrations of Thomas Bewick, while Cleggie turns the other bit into a hellish megalopolis vivisected by bullet trains to keep up with the Chinese.
Though he may not have what it takes. I don't think he did much to try and save that very long-established forge in Sheffield that had a fine reputation but was passed over for some very important contract and had to close. Taking a place back to Year Zero seems very generally to result in its staying there.Nicholas_Till

I've got it! Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and the other places down there can be The GrimUpNorth (I've a feeling they're rather proud of all that...). North of the Aire Gap, it can be called The North Country. After all, apart from Tyne/Wear/Teesside it's mostly pretty rural. Or, The North North; or, for that matter, The Nice North. Its inhabitants can potter about being outlandish and slaying dragons and being chased by the Chillingham bull in a paysage that looks like the illustrations of Thomas Bewick, while Cleggie turns the other bit into a hellish megalopolis vivisected by bullet trains to keep up with the Chinese. Though he may not have what it takes. I don't think he did much to try and save that very long-established forge in Sheffield that had a fine reputation but was passed over for some very important contract and had to close. Taking a place back to Year Zero seems very generally to result in its staying there.

Score: 1

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